How to get the difference between two arrays of objects in JavaScript

Question

I have two result sets like this:

// Result 1
[
    { value: \"0\", display: \"Jamsheer\" },
    { value: \"1\", display: \"Muhammed\" },
    { value: \"2\",         


        

Answer 1

I prefer map object when it comes to big arrays.

// create tow arrays
array1 = Array.from({length: 400},() => ({value:Math.floor(Math.random() * 4000)}))
array2 = Array.from({length: 400},() => ({value:Math.floor(Math.random() * 4000)}))

// calc diff with some function
console.time('diff with some');
results = array2.filter(({ value: id1 }) => array1.some(({ value: id2 }) => id2 === id1));
console.log('diff results ',results.length)
console.timeEnd('diff with some');

// calc diff with map object
console.time('diff with map');
array1Map = {};
for(const item1 of array1){
    array1Map[item1.value] = true;
}
results = array2.filter(({ value: id2 }) => array1Map[id2]);
console.log('map results ',results.length)
console.timeEnd('diff with map');

Answer 2

I've made a generalized diff that compare 2 objects of any kind and can run a modification handler gist.github.com/bortunac "diff.js" an ex of using :

old_obj={a:1,b:2,c:[1,2]}
now_obj={a:2 , c:[1,3,5],d:55}

so property a is modified, b is deleted, c modified, d is added

var handler=function(type,pointer){
console.log(type,pointer,this.old.point(pointer)," | ",this.now.point(pointer)); 

}

now use like

df=new diff();
df.analize(now_obj,old_obj);
df.react(handler);

the console will show

mdf ["a"]  1 | 2 
mdf ["c", "1"]  2 | 3 
add ["c", "2"]  undefined | 5 
add ["d"]  undefined | 55 
del ["b"]  2 | undefined 

Answer 3

In addition, say two object array with different key value

// Array Object 1
const arrayObjOne = [
    { userId: "1", display: "Jamsheer" },
    { userId: "2", display: "Muhammed" },
    { userId: "3", display: "Ravi" },
    { userId: "4", display: "Ajmal" },
    { userId: "5", display: "Ryan" }
]

// Array Object 2
const arrayObjTwo =[
    { empId: "1", display: "Jamsheer", designation:"Jr. Officer" },
    { empId: "2", display: "Muhammed", designation:"Jr. Officer" },
    { empId: "3", display: "Ravi", designation:"Sr. Officer" },
    { empId: "4", display: "Ajmal", designation:"Ast. Manager" },
]

You can use filter in es5 or native js to substract two array object.

//Find data that are in arrayObjOne but not in arrayObjTwo
var uniqueResultArrayObjOne = arrayObjOne.filter(function(objOne) {
    return !arrayObjTwo.some(function(objTwo) {
        return objOne.userId == objTwo.empId;
    });
});

In ES6 you can use Arrow function with Object destructuring of ES6.

const ResultArrayObjOne = arrayObjOne.filter(({ userId: userId }) => !arrayObjTwo.some(({ empId: empId }) => empId === userId));

console.log(ResultArrayObjOne);

Answer 4

Most of answers here are rather complex, but isn't logic behind this quite simple?

1. check which array is longer and provide it as first parameter (if length is equal, parameters order doesnt matter)
2. Iterate over array1.
3. For current iteration element of array1 check if it is present in array2
4. If it is NOT present, than
5. Push it to 'difference' array

const getArraysDifference = (longerArray, array2) => {
  const difference = [];

  longerArray.forEach(el1 => {      /*1*/
    el1IsPresentInArr2 = array2.some(el2 => el2.value === el1.value); /*2*/

    if (!el1IsPresentInArr2) { /*3*/
      difference.push(el1);    /*4*/
    }
  });

  return difference;
}

O(n^2) complexity.

Answer 5

You could use Array.prototype.filter() in combination with Array.prototype.some().

Here is an example (assuming your arrays are stored in the variables result1 and result2):

//Find values that are in result1 but not in result2
var uniqueResultOne = result1.filter(function(obj) {
    return !result2.some(function(obj2) {
        return obj.value == obj2.value;
    });
});

//Find values that are in result2 but not in result1
var uniqueResultTwo = result2.filter(function(obj) {
    return !result1.some(function(obj2) {
        return obj.value == obj2.value;
    });
});

//Combine the two arrays of unique entries
var result = uniqueResultOne.concat(uniqueResultTwo);

Answer 6

If you are willing to use external libraries, You can use _.difference in underscore.js to achieve this. _.difference returns the values from array that are not present in the other arrays.

_.difference([1,2,3,4,5][1,4,10])

==>[2,3,5]